Railcar maintenance creeper

Abstract

A creeper is provided wherein the creeper has a main frame comprising a front and a rear; wheels attached to the main frame; a handle attached to the mainframe rearward of said wheels; a platform slidably attached to the main frame and rail engagement brackets attached to the mainframe forward of the wheels. Pressure is applied to the handle thereby lifting the front of the main frame thereby supporting the creeper on the wheels. The creeper is moved to a position under the railcar. Pressure is removed from the handle thereby allowing the front of the creeper to lower wherein the rail engagement brackets engage with rails of a track. The personnel lays on the platform and slides the platform under the railcar.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A creeper adapted for operation under a railcar comprising:
 a main frame comprising a front and a rear, said main frame further comprising:
 wheels attached at said rear of said main frame; and 
 a handle attached at said rear of said main frame and extending upward, said handle for driving said creeper; 
 
 a roller platform comprising a turntable, said roller platform slidably attached to said main frame; and 
 a platform rotatably attached to said roller platform above said turntable. 
 
     
     
       2. The creeper of  claim 1  further comprising rail engagement brackets attached to said main frame forward of said wheels. 
     
     
       3. The creeper of  claim 1  wherein said platform comprises a seat and a back wherein said back is pivotally attached to said seat. 
     
     
       4. The creeper of  claim 3  further comprising a gas strut between said seat and said back wherein said gas strut is biased to persuade said back towards an upright perpendicular orientation relative to said seat. 
     
     
       5. The creeper of  claim 3  further comprising a protractor bracket capable of reversibly fixing said back at a fixed angle relative to said seat. 
     
     
       6. The creeper of  claim 5  wherein said protractor bracket further comprises a pin for reversible fixing said back at said fixed angle relative to said seat. 
     
     
       7. The creeper of  claim 6  wherein said pin is spring loaded. 
     
     
       8. The creeper of  claim 1  wherein said main frame comprises side rails and cross-braces. 
     
     
       9. The creeper of  claim 1  further comprising at least one jack capable of reversibly engaging with a ground surface to stabilize said creeper against movement. 
     
     
       10. The creeper of  claim 9  wherein said jack is rotatably attached to said main frame. 
     
     
       11. A creeper for operation beneath a railcar, comprising:
 a main frame having a front section and a rear section; 
 wheels attached to said rear of said main frame for roller movement of said creeper; 
 a generally U-shaped handle attached to said rear of said main frame and extending upward from said main frame; said handle for driving said creeper; 
 a roller platform slidably attached to said main frame; 
 a seat rotatably mounted on said roller platform; 
 a back pivotally attached to said seat for movement between an upright position and a folded position immediately above said seat.